New regulation requires each franchise to sign at least two U23 players for 2025 season
Johannesburg, 15 August 2025 — The Betway SA20 Season 4 Player Auction will take place in Johannesburg on 9 September, with a sharp spotlight on South Africa’s next generation of cricket talent. For the first time, all six franchises will be required to include a minimum of two Under-23 players in their 19-player squads.
This new player regulation replaces the previous Rookie Draft system used in Seasons 2 and 3, with the aim of giving young players greater continuity and market-based contract value in line with the rest of the auction pool.
SA20’s youth-first policy fuels next-gen cricket stardom
Several Under-23 players have emerged as breakout stars in recent SA20 seasons, including the likes of Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Brevis was a standout performer in MI Cape Town’s title-winning Season 3 campaign and has since elevated to the international stage with a record-breaking 125* off 56 balls in a T20I against Australia in Darwin. The 22-year-old remains a marquee U23 player entering the Season 4 auction.
Marco Jansen, acquired for R6.1 million at the inaugural auction, has since become the SA20’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 47 wickets at an average of 19.38. Tristan Stubbs, a record-breaking R9.2 million signing, has delivered consistent returns with 723 runs at a strike rate of 140.11 while taking on wicketkeeping duties and excelling in all three formats for the Proteas.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, now 19, stunned fans with 397 runs at a strike rate of 166.81 in Season 3, earning him the Batter of the Season award and a call-up to the national setup.
Confirmed U23 players eligible for Season 4 auction
Matthew Boast – Pretoria Capitals (2024–25)
Dewald Brevis – MI Cape Town (2023–25)
CJ King – Durban’s Super Giants (2025)
JP King – Joburg Super Kings (2025)
Tristan Luus – MI Cape Town (2025)
Kwena Maphaka – Paarl Royals (2025)
Dewan Marais – Paarl Royals (2025)
Lhuan-dre Pretorius – Paarl Royals (retained for Season 4)
Andile Simelane – Sunrisers Eastern Cape (2024–25)
Steve Stolk – Pretoria Capitals (2025)
Maphaka, Simelane, Brevis lead next-gen contenders
Kwena Maphaka, 19, made history during the Australia series by becoming the youngest bowler from a Full Member nation to take a four-wicket haul in a T20I. He previously featured for the Paarl Royals and will be a hot pick at the auction.
Andile Simelane has spent the past two seasons with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is expected to draw attention in the allrounder category. Meanwhile, Brevis remains the headline name, combining star power with explosive numbers.
Auction details and player registration
The SA20 Season 4 Player Auction will be held on Monday, 9 September, and broadcast live on SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa) and JioHotstar (India) starting at 13:30 SAST.
Player registration closes at 17:00 SAST on 18 August. Interested U23 players can register via the official SA20 website.
Under-23 stars aim to follow Brevis and Jansen’s path
As the SA20 continues to cement its status as South Africa’s premier T20 league, the new U23 rule sets the stage for the next wave of talent to make their mark. With contracts tied to auction value and roster continuity guaranteed, Season 4 promises more opportunities than ever for young players to shine on a global stage.
